8. The Forgotten War: Korea 1950-1953

Question 1

What policies did Truman implement to oppose communism?

Answer 1

• Truman Doctrine (March 1947) Truman’s speech to Congress alludes to communism – references the communist party in Greece
• Resisting Soviet expansion worldwide
• Containment (U.S. policy)
• Marshall Plan (1947-51) = bilateral aid/soft power

Question 2

What events between 1945 and 1950 heightened Cold War tension?

Answer 2

• Churchill ‘Iron Curtain’ speech 1946
• Czechoslovakia Elections
• Berlin Blockade (1945-49)
• George Kennan = The Long Telegram
• Creation of N.A.T.O
• Warsaw Pact (USSR)
• Armament Race
• Chinese Civil War (1945-9)
• Partition of Korea (38th Parallel)

Question 3

How did South Korea fair under the leadership of Syngman Rhee?

Answer 3

• Internal discontent e.g. Jeju Uprising, Yosu Mutiny
• Centralisation of the government
• Small minority party
• Beset by armed conflicts
• High deficits/inflation
• Lack of food

Question 4

How may Dean Acheson’s 1950 speech at the National Press Club have encouraged the invasion of South Korea?

Answer 4

• 12 January, 1950
• Speech approved by Truman
• Outlined U.S. foreign policy and containment
  Acheson didn’t mention South Korea as an area the U.S. would protect from communism = giving the green light to the North and USSR?

Question 5

When did North Korea attack the South and why was the invasion initially successful?

Answer 5

• 25th June, 1950
• Fully launched invasion
• Well armed, Airforce, tanks etc.
• Technologically advanced to the South
• Gradual U.S. withdrawal up to 1949
• South Korea have no way to counter it

Question 6

According to NSC8 what were the U.S.A’s three main options regarding Korea and which option did the government initially choose?

Answer 6

1. Abandon South Korea
2. Give economic and military aid to South Korea
3. Sign a mutual defence treaty with South Korea
   - Choose option 2

Question 7

How did the UN become involved in Korea?

Answer 7

• U.S. and UK propose UN intervention – USSR boycott
• UN military assistance – 90% of the UN forces in Korea were U.S. troops
• 16 other nations involved including; UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, Ethiopia, Columbia, Turkey and the Philippines

Question 8

How successful was Douglas MacArthur’s Inchon Landings in September 1950?

Answer 8

• 15 September, 1950
• Risky plan – Inchon is only covered by water for 4 hours, usually mud flats
• Amphibious attack
• Caught the North Koreans by surprise
• U.S. cuts the North’s supply lines forcing North Koreans troops to retreat

Question 9

Why does China become involved in the Korean War and how does it effect UN forces?

Answer 9

• UN forces push into North Korea and take Pyongyang
• China says if the UN gets too close to the Chinese border they will attack
• Yalu River borders Korea and China
• November 1950 – China sends troops into North Korea taking UN forces by surprise
• Supply lines are stretched and the UN is forced to retreat
• The North takes Seoul again
• However Soviet and Chinese planes are no match for U.S. air forces and Seoul is retaken again

Question 10

Why was there a stalemate?

Answer 10

• The line between North and South barely changes for two years
• July 1953 an armistice line is drawn, essentially the same to the initial 38th Parallel
• No peace treaty is signed
• The POW issue = how to negotiate the repatriation of POWs, U.S wants to give POWs a choice of where the stay/go the USSR wants all Northern soldiers returned to the North
• USSR ultimately gives in
• 1/3rd of North Koreans move to the South, many Chinese soldiers don’t go back to China

Question 11

What was the aftermath of the Korean War?

Answer 11

• Huge loses – an estimated 10% of the Korean population are killed during the war
• Infrastructure destroyed
• Economic impact
• Reverses U.S. decision to cut back military spending = in this case a USSR loss?
• Defence treaties
• ANZUS formed
• Korean War outlives the Cold War

Question 12

How did North Korea develop post-1953?

Answer 12

• Successful in the 1950/60s – Soviet industrial investment
• 1970s a lack of investment produces stagnation
• 1980/90s – food shortages and recession
• 1991 – collapse of the USSR, no more subsidies/aid
• Military lose their technological edge against South Korea
• Repression
• “Sunshine Policy” (2000) – South Korea wants to stop the North from developing nuclear weapons
• Nuclear deterrents – October 2006 detonate a nuclear weapon

Question 13

How did South Korea develop post-1953?

Answer 13

• Repressive government, labour rights issues
• Protests/massacres/strikes
• 1980s – becomes more democratic, election of Kim Dae-jung, first opposition candidate to be elected and allowed to take power
• Industrialisation, trade, conglomerates, TNCs
• Capitalist giant in Asia – 15th largest economy in the world

Question 14

Is it possible that Korea may eventually reunify?

Answer 14

• Present conditions still keep Korea divided
• The Korean War still technically continues
• Koreans view themselves as having one identity, don’t consider themselves as North or South Koreans = potential reunification in the future?